Amtrak Celebrates Opening of First Platform at Baltimore Penn Station

Courtesy of Baltimore Penn Station via X

BALTIMORE – Amtrak will open the first of two boarding platforms at Baltimore Penn Station in Spring 2024.

Amtrak representatives and local, state, and federal officials gathered to inaugurate a new boarding platform at Baltimore Penn Station. The platform is expected to start serving trains sometime this Spring. This platform is the first of two to be built at Baltimore Penn Station and comes as part of “Amtrak’s overall redevelopment of Baltimore Penn station, a $150 million investment to improve customer experience and grow passenger rail.” The second station is expected to be finished by Fall 2024.

 The station is the eight busiest on Amtrak’s network, and more than three million Amtrak and MARC passengers pass through annually. Amtrak ridership increased by 29% in Baltimore during the last year, more than the company average growth nationwide of 24%.

The platform provides more than 1,000 linear feet of space and includes pedestrian pathways and ADA-accessible elevators. The project also includes roofing and historical restoration of the columns and canopies for each platform as well as a renovated headhouse.

Amtrak President, Roger Harris said: “As we work to redevelop Baltimore Penn Station and enhance the customer experience, this new platform will help ease rail congestion and reduce delays on the Northeast Corridor. . . Amtrak ridership continues to grow, and this new platform will help us build future capacity while also improving operational flexibility.”

FRA Deputy Administrator, Jennifer Mitchell said: “Renovations and upgrades at Baltimore Penn Station, including the new boarding platform just finished, will modernize a historic hub for Baltimore residents and along the Northeast Corridor, helping to accommodate future ridership growth at one of Amtrak’s busiest stations,” said FRA Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell. “The Federal Railroad Administration is proud to support work at Baltimore Penn Station and beyond as we invest billions from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance projects of national significance in Maryland, like replacing the B&P Tunnel, Bush River Bridge, Gunpowder River Bridge, and Susquehanna River Rail Bridge.”

On X (formerly Twitter), Baltimore Penn Station tweeted about the gathering: